A Golden Mirrour Conteining certaine Pithie and figuratiue Visions prognosticating good fortune to England and all true English Subiectes with an ouerthrowe to the enemies. Whereto be adioyned certaine pretie Poemes written on the names of sundrie both noble and worshipfull [by Richard Robinson] |
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The last Dreame that Morpheus did showe vnto the Author,
vvas of a Lambe, that appeared vnto him, and seemed as though he spake
for the Time, by the prouidence of the Gods: as follovveth.
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 | A Golden Mirrour |  |
The last Dreame that Morpheus did showe vnto the Author, vvas of a Lambe, that appeared vnto him, and seemed as though he spake for the Time, by the prouidence of the Gods: as follovveth.
Last
at my booke in studie where I sate,
My wits worne weak, my sence was grose and lame,
A drosie dump began to pierce my pate,
That in mine eie, a sleepe began to frame:
Which when I spied, yet reason bad me rise,
And sluggish sleepe alwaies for to dispise.
My wits worne weak, my sence was grose and lame,
A drosie dump began to pierce my pate,
That in mine eie, a sleepe began to frame:
Which when I spied, yet reason bad me rise,
And sluggish sleepe alwaies for to dispise.
To shun that sloothfull vice my hauke I tooke,
I calde my Spannels, and to the field I went:
A flight to finde, both brake and bush I shooke,
till too and fro, three howers full were spent:
Thus wandring long, my Spannels found of game,
And I made hast with speede to flie the same.
I calde my Spannels, and to the field I went:
A flight to finde, both brake and bush I shooke,
till too and fro, three howers full were spent:
Thus wandring long, my Spannels found of game,
And I made hast with speede to flie the same.
The Partridge sprang, my hauke fled from my fist.
With open Iawes my Spanniels cried the game,
With speedy foote, no hedge nor ditch I mist,
Through thicke and thin I ran, to see the same.
But out of sight both hauke and Partridge flew,
Till I by following, into a Desert drew.
With open Iawes my Spanniels cried the game,
With speedy foote, no hedge nor ditch I mist,
Through thicke and thin I ran, to see the same.
But out of sight both hauke and Partridge flew,
Till I by following, into a Desert drew.
And being thus in vncouth place not knowen,
Both Hawke and Spanneils lost and from me fled:
And I with toylling trauell ouerthrowen,
Dame Nature came, and thus vnto me sayd:
Preserue thy selfe (quoth she) thy hawke is gone,
And take some rest, for other helpe is none.
Both Hawke and Spanneils lost and from me fled:
And I with toylling trauell ouerthrowen,
Dame Nature came, and thus vnto me sayd:
And take some rest, for other helpe is none.
To whom I did obey and downe I sat,
Upon a bancke and leaned to a thorne:
And rested there till Morpheus hit my pat,
With his drowsie mace, & said to me in scorne:
Well met Faukoner, what haue you kild to day,
Cho ho hath croken bill, her maister left astray?
Upon a bancke and leaned to a thorne:
And rested there till Morpheus hit my pat,
With his drowsie mace, & said to me in scorne:
Well met Faukoner, what haue you kild to day,
Cho ho hath croken bill, her maister left astray?
Let Hawkes and Spanels packe and follow me,
(Quoth he) for now thou shalt in deede attend:
Although thou meant, gainst duetie from me flee,
I pardon thee, although thou did offend:
So many times though I haue troubled thee,
This is the last, I promise faithfully.
(Quoth he) for now thou shalt in deede attend:
Although thou meant, gainst duetie from me flee,
I pardon thee, although thou did offend:
So many times though I haue troubled thee,
This is the last, I promise faithfully.
Thus like a lump or clod of clay I was,
For why? my vitall sprite with Morpheus went,
For to behold what he would bring to passe,
With weary straps to wait I was content,
Til at the last a Lambe did vs approche,
Who did thys sentence brauely to vs broch.
For why? my vitall sprite with Morpheus went,
For to behold what he would bring to passe,
With weary straps to wait I was content,
Til at the last a Lambe did vs approche,
Who did thys sentence brauely to vs broch.
Que brantare la fe, es causa muy fea.
Which wordes made me no little for to muse,
To heare a Lambe in language strange to say,
Those that breake faith, do all the Gods abuse,
And are detected at the latter day.
Then sayd this Lambe, sith Robinson is here,
Before he passe some wisdome shall he leare,
To heare a Lambe in language strange to say,
Those that breake faith, do all the Gods abuse,
And are detected at the latter day.
Then sayd this Lambe, sith Robinson is here,
Before he passe some wisdome shall he leare,
Wel said my Lambe (quoth Morpheus) let vs heare,
Some sayings graue out off Experience schoole:
Sith thou his Scholler, learned many a yeare,
And hath bene Usher for to see good rule,
I pray thee now vnto my Clearke declare,
The flatterers feats, and see that none thou spare.
Some sayings graue out off Experience schoole:
Sith thou his Scholler, learned many a yeare,
I pray thee now vnto my Clearke declare,
The flatterers feats, and see that none thou spare.
And with these wordes he mounted ore a hill,
And Lambe and me left by a riuer side,
Stay, stay (quoth Lambe) rest here and if thou wil,
Til of my speach thou haue experience tride,
And saying thus, he stept into his caue,
And brought a glasse of Skill exeeeding braue.
And Lambe and me left by a riuer side,
Stay, stay (quoth Lambe) rest here and if thou wil,
Til of my speach thou haue experience tride,
And saying thus, he stept into his caue,
And brought a glasse of Skill exeeeding braue.
Lo here (quoth Lambe) and then began to blett,
And made me signes to looke within the glasse:
Here maist thou see (said he) of deepe deceit,
The total sum, I meane of more and lesse.
And by the same before thou passe shalt prooue,
Who is thy friend, and who dissembleth loue.
And made me signes to looke within the glasse:
Here maist thou see (said he) of deepe deceit,
The total sum, I meane of more and lesse.
And by the same before thou passe shalt prooue,
Who is thy friend, and who dissembleth loue.
I greedily the glasse began to graspe,
Wherein I saw a number that I knew.
With honnied mouths, yet natur'd like the waspe.
That at the length their stings against me threw
But yet I did dissemble all the while,
Because I would perceiue their fraude and guile.
Wherein I saw a number that I knew.
With honnied mouths, yet natur'd like the waspe.
That at the length their stings against me threw
But yet I did dissemble all the while,
Because I would perceiue their fraude and guile.
Then looking stil within thys glasse I see
The loftie lookes of some that spake me faire,
And in their friendship so imbraced me,
That outwardly true meaning did appeare,
When Morpheus Lambe perceiu'd I did thē trust
Take heed betime (quoth he) they are vniust.
The loftie lookes of some that spake me faire,
And in their friendship so imbraced me,
That outwardly true meaning did appeare,
When Morpheus Lambe perceiu'd I did thē trust
Take heed betime (quoth he) they are vniust.
These are Camallians that change to euery color
They showe like gold, but inward worse than brasse,
Looke what they promise makes no purse the fuller,
As by experience proofe declares no lesse.
Of forrein frayes they tell a bloudy tale,
But commonly they quarrell with good ale,
They showe like gold, but inward worse than brasse,
Looke what they promise makes no purse the fuller,
As by experience proofe declares no lesse.
But commonly they quarrell with good ale,
Therefore (sayd he) trust not an alehouse frend,
Beleeue them not that are accustomed to lye:
A boasting souldiours tale, hath neuer end,
And flattering wordes, be false so shalt thou try:
Rough trees, rough fruit, rough tast doe beare,
See vice and vertue showes, in whom they doe appeare.
Beleeue them not that are accustomed to lye:
A boasting souldiours tale, hath neuer end,
And flattering wordes, be false so shalt thou try:
Rough trees, rough fruit, rough tast doe beare,
See vice and vertue showes, in whom they doe appeare.
And therefore trust not the vntrustie man,
To doe and say, doth differ much ye know:
Great difference is, twixt Orpheus skill and Pan,
You know the sense, what neede I more to show:
And therefore he, that violateth fayth,
Is worthy as I sayd to suffer death.
To doe and say, doth differ much ye know:
Great difference is, twixt Orpheus skill and Pan,
You know the sense, what neede I more to show:
And therefore he, that violateth fayth,
Is worthy as I sayd to suffer death.
Stay yet sayd Lambe, behold more of this glasse,
See where one bounseth in a players gowne:
Furde like a foole, as nice as ere she was,
The brauest tipling tib, that is within the towne:
While she at tick tacke, tryes to proue her chaunce,
Her husband is content, a hornpipe for to daunce.
See where one bounseth in a players gowne:
Furde like a foole, as nice as ere she was,
The brauest tipling tib, that is within the towne:
While she at tick tacke, tryes to proue her chaunce,
Her husband is content, a hornpipe for to daunce.
She is well custom'd, both with rich, and poore,
Fye of Gentillitie, for she can speake no French:
Which blemisheth, her banner, and craks her credit sore,
And yet notwithstanding, she is a bounsing wench,
She dayly doth vsurpe, a Gentlewomans name:
I list to speake no more of her, for bearing blame.
Fye of Gentillitie, for she can speake no French:
Which blemisheth, her banner, and craks her credit sore,
And yet notwithstanding, she is a bounsing wench,
She dayly doth vsurpe, a Gentlewomans name:
I list to speake no more of her, for bearing blame.
And with these wordes this Lambe agayne did bleyte,
And as it seem'd by countenaunce morned much:
And sayd oh foolish Poliphils drowned in conceite,
Why thinke you of your selues, as though there were none such:
You play Sabinas part, that proud lasciuious Dame,
Whose vgly life the Poets, haue penned to her shame.
And as it seem'd by countenaunce morned much:
And sayd oh foolish Poliphils drowned in conceite,
Why thinke you of your selues, as though there were none such:
You play Sabinas part, that proud lasciuious Dame,
Fiue hundreth Asses milke, she dayly had the bathe,
For to increase her vice, and bewtie to preserue:
As at these dayes, our countrey women craue,
Out of a little hyde, a thong to large they craue:
For euery poore mans daughter, now is prankt in silke,
Which doth Sabinas hath, incounter made of milke.
For to increase her vice, and bewtie to preserue:
As at these dayes, our countrey women craue,
Out of a little hyde, a thong to large they craue:
For euery poore mans daughter, now is prankt in silke,
Which doth Sabinas hath, incounter made of milke.
These base-borne birth Galeriæs heart exceeds,
That Neros golden pallaces did disdayne:
They thinke them flowers, which are in deede but weeds,
For truth, doth try them, counterfetted playne:
As some men haue, of veluet scabarts made,
That dayly couers, a rustie canckered blade.
That Neros golden pallaces did disdayne:
They thinke them flowers, which are in deede but weeds,
For truth, doth try them, counterfetted playne:
As some men haue, of veluet scabarts made,
That dayly couers, a rustie canckered blade.
Of poyson Poets write, that Cleopatra dyed,
No, no, (quoth Lambe) it is a lye indeed:
Her death came thus, in stories as I read,
By a bodkin that she bought, her heart did bleyd:
With which she vs'd, to curle her golden haire,
Wherewith she kild her selfe, it doth appeare.
No, no, (quoth Lambe) it is a lye indeed:
Her death came thus, in stories as I read,
By a bodkin that she bought, her heart did bleyd:
With which she vs'd, to curle her golden haire,
Wherewith she kild her selfe, it doth appeare.
Loe heare you lewde lasciuious wanton sort,
That doe delite, to paint your selues in pride:
No doubt but you, shall smart for youthfull sport,
When mettel shalbe, by the fire tryde:
When flaming fire (I say) the gold shall try,
In Plutos pit, you shall for euer cry.
That doe delite, to paint your selues in pride:
No doubt but you, shall smart for youthfull sport,
When mettel shalbe, by the fire tryde:
When flaming fire (I say) the gold shall try,
In Plutos pit, you shall for euer cry.
Thus prating promisers, hold still your fruitles brags,
Among your potts, your promises performe:
Els will the wise, perceiue your wardrop rags,
And to your shame, will laugh you all to scorne:
You mistres tipler, that would so gentle bee,
For all your furs, your tricks the world doth see.
Among your potts, your promises performe:
Els will the wise, perceiue your wardrop rags,
And to your shame, will laugh you all to scorne:
You mistres tipler, that would so gentle bee,
For all your furs, your tricks the world doth see.
Learne to speake French, and if you wilbe gentle,
For French must make you mistres, that's most sure:
Because your birth is, very base and simple,
And you a tipler, whose life is nothing pure:
Learne to know thy selfe, thy neighbours know thee well,
Per foy merritriciam, els will I ring thy bell.
For French must make you mistres, that's most sure:
Because your birth is, very base and simple,
And you a tipler, whose life is nothing pure:
Learne to know thy selfe, thy neighbours know thee well,
Per foy merritriciam, els will I ring thy bell.
And then aloude this Lambe to laugh began,
To Limbo lake (quoth he) la iambe les piedz packe:
Les leures of such, inticeth many a man,
To vtter confusion, and euerlasting lacke:
Loe mistres tipler, if you will gentle be,
It's more then tyme you come, to learne this French of me,
To Limbo lake (quoth he) la iambe les piedz packe:
Les leures of such, inticeth many a man,
To vtter confusion, and euerlasting lacke:
Loe mistres tipler, if you will gentle be,
It's more then tyme you come, to learne this French of me,
And at these wordes, a while this Lambe did pause,
And spying me, a weary of the Tyme:
Upon the earth, began to scrape his clawes,
Friend Robinson (quoth he) thy listning eares incline:
For now women, that good and vertuous were,
I purpose by my speach, thou presently shalt heare.
And spying me, a weary of the Tyme:
Upon the earth, began to scrape his clawes,
Friend Robinson (quoth he) thy listning eares incline:
For now women, that good and vertuous were,
I purpose by my speach, thou presently shalt heare.
Posthumia was of euill sore accused,
For merry countenaunce, of ill she was condemn'd:
Minutius, her husband, her company refused,
And home agayne his wife, did to her parents send:
If countenaunce then, so great a vice was thought,
What say you by the act, this day that's dayly wrought.
For merry countenaunce, of ill she was condemn'd:
Minutius, her husband, her company refused,
And home agayne his wife, did to her parents send:
If countenaunce then, so great a vice was thought,
What say you by the act, this day that's dayly wrought.
In Calcedon, both mayds, and matrons vs'd,
Unto a straunger, but one cheeke to show:
Hierous wife, all peoples breth refus'd,
Except her husbands, no mans els did know:
No showes in Egypt, neuer women had,
The cause was this, they hated for to gad.
Unto a straunger, but one cheeke to show:
Hierous wife, all peoples breth refus'd,
Except her husbands, no mans els did know:
No showes in Egypt, neuer women had,
The cause was this, they hated for to gad.
When in Boetia, the Damsels, married were,
A noble custome worthie note they had:
A vertue rare, no doubt it did appeare.
In those I say, that loued not to gad:
Her coyche was burn'd, that day she married was,
Which signifi'd, from home she would not passe.
A vertue rare, no doubt it did appeare.
In those I say, that loued not to gad:
Her coyche was burn'd, that day she married was,
Which signifi'd, from home she would not passe.
The daughters of Lisander, refus'd the rich attire,
That from Sicilie, was as tokens sent:
Least that the pride thereof, their hearts should fire,
The glittering show, they did no deale commend:
For vertue was, the iewell that they sought,
All stately dealings, banisht from their thought.
That from Sicilie, was as tokens sent:
Least that the pride thereof, their hearts should fire,
The glittering show, they did no deale commend:
For vertue was, the iewell that they sought,
All stately dealings, banisht from their thought.
Loe heare sayd Lambe, the life that Ladies liu'd,
The simpler sort, according calling went:
One at an others state enuied not, nor greeu'd,
Ne yet the Tyme in lewdnes neuer spent:
No wandring vnto waks, those dayes did women vse,
Nor gadding vnto greens, their life for to abuse.
The simpler sort, according calling went:
One at an others state enuied not, nor greeu'd,
Ne yet the Tyme in lewdnes neuer spent:
No wandring vnto waks, those dayes did women vse,
Nor gadding vnto greens, their life for to abuse.
Then was the husbandman, and all his children knowne,
By such attire, as them became to weare:
Th'artificer, by pride was not orethrowne,
Then malice in mens mynds, did not appeare:
Nor no man would, breake promise at that Tyme,
Faith, loue, and charitie, in hearts of men did shine.
By such attire, as them became to weare:
Th'artificer, by pride was not orethrowne,
Then malice in mens mynds, did not appeare:
Nor no man would, breake promise at that Tyme,
Faith, loue, and charitie, in hearts of men did shine.
Now poore mens pride, hath brought the world to nought,
Their children as I sayd, so pranck in pride:
Incountring Gentlemen, as neare as may be thought,
The common wealth, in England hath distroyde:
And filthy flatterie, these dayes is so imbraced,
The cogging crew away true meanyng chased.
Their children as I sayd, so pranck in pride:
Incountring Gentlemen, as neare as may be thought,
The common wealth, in England hath distroyde:
And filthy flatterie, these dayes is so imbraced,
The cogging crew away true meanyng chased.
And with these wordes, this Lambe, lookt on me fast,
Marke well my speach (quoth he) an other tyme:
For now thou seest that Phœbus maketh hast,
Into the Occidentall flouds for to decline:
In tyme to come trust thou no flattering friend,
Nor tipling tib, except, to much thou spend.
Marke well my speach (quoth he) an other tyme:
Into the Occidentall flouds for to decline:
In tyme to come trust thou no flattering friend,
Nor tipling tib, except, to much thou spend.
The Meritrix, the furred foole doth vse,
Spy thou and at her mates a litle while:
For she, and they, shall reape, they may not chuse,
The fruits they graft, vpon their sinfull soyle:
As euery wight, doth know their vice vntold,
Shall ere they dye, their woful end behold.
Spy thou and at her mates a litle while:
For she, and they, shall reape, they may not chuse,
The fruits they graft, vpon their sinfull soyle:
As euery wight, doth know their vice vntold,
Shall ere they dye, their woful end behold.
Thus presently came Morpheus backe agayne,
How now my lambe (quoth he) hast done my will:
Hast told my Clarke, thy mynde & meaning plaine,
That of the world, he may haue better skill:
I haue my Lord (quoth Lambe) done what I may,
Plainly vnto Dunstable, to direct the way.
How now my lambe (quoth he) hast done my will:
Hast told my Clarke, thy mynde & meaning plaine,
That of the world, he may haue better skill:
I haue my Lord (quoth Lambe) done what I may,
Plainly vnto Dunstable, to direct the way.
I thanke thee sayd Sir Morpheus for the same,
I will that he, and thou, this present tyme depart:
For that he beares abroad, a writers name,
I will not stay him longer from his act:
Thus sodenly I wakened out of sleepe,
In Dreaming long, this lambe became a sheepe.
I will that he, and thou, this present tyme depart:
For that he beares abroad, a writers name,
I will not stay him longer from his act:
Thus sodenly I wakened out of sleepe,
In Dreaming long, this lambe became a sheepe.
Thus blushing brood, awaken I from sleepe,
And on the soden, dasht in drowsie dumps:
Began with speed, for to plucke vp my feete,
Because the place, did put me to my iumps:
This desert was, alas vnknowen to mee,
My Hawke, nor Spannels could I neuer see.
And on the soden, dasht in drowsie dumps:
Began with speed, for to plucke vp my feete,
Because the place, did put me to my iumps:
This desert was, alas vnknowen to mee,
My Hawke, nor Spannels could I neuer see.
But what this lambe by Morpheus meanes did say,
With diligence, I pen'd that other day.
With diligence, I pen'd that other day.
FINIS.
| A Golden Mirrour | |